Rain skirt



Feb. 6, 1951 v ow qy 2,540,372

RAIN SKIRT Filed June 16. 1-948 INVENT OR. Virginia ["I. Lmwry BY Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAIN SKIRT Virginia M. Lowry, New York, N. Y. Application June 16, 1948, Serial No. 33,270

1 Claim.

This invention relates to female outergarments.

An object of the invention is to provide an article in the nature of an outergarment, which is adapted to be worn over the skirt or dress, to protect the same from the elements, such as rain, snow, sleet and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article in the nature of an outergarment, which is adapted to be worn for the protection of the clothing of the female wearer from the elements, the garment serving to cover only the waistline and skirt portion of the wearers clothing, and being made of attractive material which is weatherproof so as to repel entry of rain, snow and sleet.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article of female outerwear in the nature of a rain-skirt, formed of attractive rainproof material which may be transparent so as to render visible the garments worn thereunder, or which may be either only translucent or even opaque, and, if desired, may have an inherent coloration which enhances or complements the appearance of the garments worn thereunder, and also, if desired, may have its own inherent attractive design pattern, for decorative purposes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an article of female outerwear in the nature of an attractive rain-skirt, which is so constructed as to be easily and quickly put on and taken off without disturbing the other clothing, and which may be folded to a compact size and placed in the purse or also in a small compact envelope of attractive appearance, which may be carried in the purse or in the hand for instant use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rain-skirt of the type described, which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, attractive in appearance, for the purpose of protectingthe outer clothing of the wearer, particularly her skirt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a view of the rain skirt in protective position upon the body of the wearer,

Figure 2 is a view of the upper portion of the rain-skirt, partly opened out to show its construction,

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the miclsection of the figure shown in Figure 1, illustrating in greater detail the upper portion of the rain-skirt, its waistband being partly broken out.

and convenient and elfective Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line 44 of Figure Figure 5 is a fra mentary sectional plan view taken on line 55 of Figure 4, and illustrating the relationship of the parts, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

One of the problems constantly confronting women is the inclement weather, such as rain, snow, sleet and the like, for which they are required to make adequate provision if the rain, for example, is expected. However, this is not always the case, and they are frequently caught in the rain without any protection whatever. And, even when they do carry umbrellas, it is well known that those designed for women are quite small, and more decorative than protective, so that they shield only the upper portion of the body and clothing from the rain, and the wearers skirt is frequently soaked and ruined in appearance.

Wearing of full length rain coats does not solve the problem at all, since they are bulky, and usually quite unattractive, causing most women to avoid using them at all costs. My invention not only solves this problem by providing adequate protection for the lower and middle portion of the wearers clothing, and her legs, but also is so attractive in appearance that there is all the more added incentive for the woman to wear it. In addition, it may be made transparent so as to display even in inclement weather, the beautiful colors and patterns of the latest styles of dresses and skirts. My invention thus involves a novel and improved rain-skirt, which is worn over the dress or skirt, so as to shield it from the rain and snow.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, the rain skirt includes a skirt portion generally indicated at It, and a waistband portion generally indicated at l2. The skirt portion ill is formed from flexible sheet material which is water repellent so as to make it rain proof. This material may be relatively thin vinyl plastic sheet material if desired, although it may also be of other suitable materials or fabrics, so long as they are water or rain proof and not too heavy for comfortable wear. If it is desired that the underlying pattern of the wearers dress M be visible, then the skirt portion should be formed of transparent sheet material. It may also be colored to match or complement the shade of the dress l4, and may have any desired ornamental themselves as at 65, and

pattern of its own imprinted in the transparent sheet material.

For-some purposes, it may be desired to form the skirt portion of opaque material, and this may also be done, although when formed of transparent material it has the added advantage of permitting the attractive skirt of the dress 14 to show through, while yet fully protecting it from the elements.

It is desirable to formthe skirt portion of at least two skirtportion panels 68 and it which have their adjoining vertical seam margins overlapping and stitched together along inner stitching line 20. By making the panels i6 and it quite large, in the manner well known in the dressmaking art, so that when spread out fiat each panel comprises between its edges a large sector of a circle, sufficient fullness of the rain skirt will be obtained. Thus, for example, the angle between radius lines 22 and 24 of i8 can very well be about 130 degrees when laid out flat, and the other panel it can be of the same size. When thus laid out flat, it will be understood that the hem edge 26 and the waistline edge 28 of each skirt portion panel it: and it will lie on concentric circles, substantially.

A vertical hem is formed in the front edge of the skirt portion panel l8, as at 39, shown best in Figures 2 and 6, the margin of the fabric being turned inwardly along the inner surface 32 of the panel I8, then toward the left again and against the surface 32 of the panel, and then inwardly toward the right again as shown at 3d in Figure 6, so that the folded vertical hem 3% has several thicknesses of fabric forming itself, four such thicknesses being illustrated in Figure 6. Two vertical rows of stitching 36 an 38 hold these hem layers firmly together as shown. The male portions of snap fasteners are secured to the hem 30 along its vertical length as illustrated.

A vertical hem 42 similar in all respects to the hem 30, but formed in the other skirt portion panel it along its front edge margin, also has the female portions 45 of snap fasteners secured to it along its vertical length, at positions to match the locations of the female portions 40, so as to engage therewith to close the fly of the skirt in the manner of Figures 1 and 2.

The waistband portion 12 of the rain-skirt is formed of the same type of flexible sheet material or fabric as the skirt portion as desired. To make the waistband, a strip of this material, slightly greater in length than the size of the wearers waistline, is taken and folded to form two outer walls 48 and 59 depending from a common top fold 52. The lower horizontal margins of the walls 48 and 56 are then folded upwardly from bottom folds 54 and 56 respectively, to form inside upstanding walls 58 and 6B respectively, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

A length of elastic 62 incorporating a plurality of resilient longitudinal cords as is well known in the art, is disposed in the space between the two inside walls 58 and 6B in the manner shown, the elastic being slightly less in length when unstretched, than the waistline of the wearer, and being anchored at its ends to'the confining walls 48, 50, 58 and 60 only where they overlie its ends, by stitching as shown by lines of stitching at 63. and 64. As seen best in Figure 2, the outer ends of the waistband may be turned inwardly upon held in position by the stitching as at 63.

Horizontal lines of stitching also extend longitudinally along the waistband l2, as at 68 and skirt portion panel T0, the upper stitches 68 extending through the upper edges of the walls 48, 50, 58 and Gil as shown best in Figure 4. The lower stitches 10 not only extend through the lower edges of the same walls, but also through the upper edge margin 28 of t .e skirt portion panels l6 and 18, the margin 28 being brought upward into the space between the inside waistband walls 58 and 553 for this purpose, the skirt portion being thus firmly secured to the waistband I2.

Since the waistband i2 is initially greater in length than the waistline of the wearer, it will be seen that the longitudinally resilient elastic waistband liner 62 the unstretched length of which is even less than the waistline of the wearer, will pull the waistband into slight tucks as shown, so as to hug the waistline of the wearer snugly to produce an attractive fit. In addition, to enable the considerable length of the upper edge 2% of the skirt portion, which is considerably greater than the waistline of the wearer, to be received by the waistband, it is obvious that the upper edge 28 of the skirt portion will necessarily be formed with a number of tucks or gathers as at 80, as it is received between the inside walls of the waistband, the stitching 10 serving to hold the tucks in position.

I prefer not to form a hem along the bottom edge 82 of the rain skirt. It will be found that the hemless rain skirt will have a more attractive appearance, and will more readily assume an easy flowing, life like motion as the wearer moves about, whereas, with a hem it would be less flexible and not nearly so graceful. Although I prefer not to use a hem along the lower hemline of the rain skirt, such may be done as a secondary modification of the invention, if

desired.

Similarly, the elastic liner 62 inside the waistband may be omitted if desired. A pair of male portions of snap fasteners 85 are secured to one end of the waistband as seen best in Figure 2, and matching female portions of snap fasteners 86 are secured to the other end of the waistband, the waistband being conveniently closed as shown, by engagement of the said portions of the snap fasteners.

It will be seen that my improved rain skirt will give ample protection to the wearer, from the elements. It is convenient and may be carried about folded up, in the handbag, or in a small envelope made of the same material, for that purpose. The rainskirt may be made longer than the skirt of the dress of the wearer, if desired, and will thus provide ample protection from the rain and snow, not only for the dress, but also for the stockings and even shoes of the wearer, since the rainskirt, due to its ample cut, extends outwardly to the sides to shield these parts from driving rain.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will be understood that variations may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

A rain skirt comprising a skirt portion adapted to overlie the dress skirt of the wearer, said skirt portion being adapted to open along a substantially vertical seam formed by mutually overlying first and second edge hems, snap fastening elements carried by at least one of said first and second edge home for securing said hems together to close the skirt, said skirt portion being formed of water resistant flexible vinyl plastic sheet material and having an upper third edge adapted to encircle the waistline of the wearer, a waistband constructed and arranged to overlie said upper third edge, and characterized further in that said waistband includes and comprises a strip of flexible substantially nonelastic waistband material, with inner and outer walls depending from an upper fold, the said upper third edge of said skirt portion being received between said inner and outer walls of said waistband, the lower marginal edges of said inner and outer walls being upturned so as to lie against opposite surfaces of said upper third edge of said skirt portion, said upper third edge being secured in said position, and longitudinally resilient lining material being disposed between said upturned edges above said upper third edge and so constructed and arranged as to exert a resilient waist hugging bias along said waistband, to hug the waistline of the wearer snugly. g0

VIRGINIA M. LOWRY.

6 1 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 927,542 Hurley July 13, 1909 929,476 Padernacht July 27, 1909 1,149,271 Lazarus Aug. 10, 1915? 1,864,948 Schmidt June 28, 1932 2,310,889 Becker Feb. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,950 Great Britain of 1904 407,068 France Dec. 21, 1909 

